So, you’re thinking about climbing the ranked ladder in League of Legends, huh? That’s awesome! But before you start battling your way to Challenger, you need to know about placement matches. These are like a mini-tournament that helps the game figure out where you belong in the ranked system.
Think of it like this: Imagine a school where everyone is sorted into different classes based on their abilities. Placement matches are like the entrance exams for these classes.
Now, you might be wondering: “What’s the big deal about placement matches? Why can’t I just jump right into ranked and see how I do?” Well, placement matches are important because they make sure you’re playing against people who are around your skill level. This way, you don’t get steamrolled by super-skilled players or get frustrated by players who are way below your level.
So, how does it actually work?
What to expect:
The Number of Matches: You’ll have to play 5 placement matches in each ranked queue you choose (solo queue, flex queue, etc.).
Winning and Losing: Winning games will obviously give you a better starting point, but it’s not just about wins and losses. The system also takes into account the difficulty of your opponents and your performance in those matches.
Starting Rank: Based on all this, you’ll get placed into a starting tier and division. Remember, you might be placed at a different tier or division than your friends who played placement matches with you.
LP Dynamics:
League Points (LP) are the currency you use to climb the ranked ladder. After your placement matches, you’ll have a certain amount of LP based on your performance.
Here’s a basic rundown:
Winning: Winning earns you LP, but the amount you get decreases with each victory. This helps to make sure you’re not just racking up wins and getting a huge head start.
Losing: Losing matches doesn’t take away any LP, but it can keep you from progressing as quickly.
Promotion: To climb to the next division, you need to reach 100 LP. Once you hit that mark, you’ll automatically get promoted.
Demotion: While you don’t lose LP directly from losing, if you keep losing and your LP drops to 0, you can be demoted to the lower division.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind:
Seasons: League of Legends has annual Ranked seasons, each divided into three splits. This helps to keep things fresh and track your progress throughout the year.
Reset: At the beginning of each new season, the ranked ladder gets reset. This means everyone starts fresh, and your placement matches will determine where you begin your climb.
Soft Reset: Sometimes, there are “soft resets” in between seasons, where the system doesn’t completely wipe your MMR (Matchmaking Rating) clean, but makes some adjustments.
Ready to climb?
Remember, placement matches are just a starting point. You’ll need to keep practicing and improving to reach your full potential. What’s your go-to champion for climbing the ranked ladder?
Let me know in the comments below!
